Another teacher worried

[Toastybutt]

I’m really lucky.
We are allowed to wear masks and cases have not been too bad in our area. But it’s really starting to get to me. I’m vulnerable- as are many of our staff. Not very very vulnerable, but enough that, now that cases are rising sharply in the area, I’m getting scared.
Not just for me. I’m worried about bringing it home to my family - I’m the only one who has to go out to work. I’m worried about passing it on to a colleague. I’m terrified that something I do (or forget to do) will put a child at risk of getting it and taking it home.
It’s really starting to drag me down.
It’s Sunday morning and I already feel sick about work tomorrow. I enjoy my job. But we are working extra hours because of staggered starts, doing extra break duties, doing various cleaning tasks too. Plus I need to get work ready for isolating children, prep and teach amazing lessons because my class deserve it and stay upbeat for the kids.
I know lots are in worse positions, I’m lucky to have a job etc. I have no idea how teachers in secondary are coping. I understand it’s worse for nurses. I know all that. But I’m stressed and sad and it’s only going to get worse now for at least the next few months.
Just needed a whinge. Thank you.

Yes, we have no control over sending home children with symptoms. If parents (or children themselves) say "it's not Covid" we don't seem to be able to do anything about it.

I work in a PRU. No masks and no social distancing. Behaviour is very challenging and staff moral is very, very low.

Teachers can wear masks if the head/Trust say they can. So there are some crappy heads around.

((((BIG VIRTUAL HUGS))))

I honestly don't know how any of you are coping!

My closest & oldest friends both work in a school & I'm very scared for them both (both have underlying issues) lots of teachers & children positive in both their schools & in their own children's schools.

I work with senior school children, but not in huge numbers & not for full days & I'm scared...I'd be a box case if I was a teacher right now.

I don't blame anyone handing their notice in, I'd have handed mine in in February I think.

I've been pretty vocal at the schools I'm involved with & tbf they're handling things pretty well. Not so much my friends school & I'm SO scared for her & her DH.

There are a lot of nasty & exceedingly stupid posters on MN, but don't assume the majority of parents are the same.

I don't know what the answer is, but it would be a start if the Govt realised there was a bloody question!!

Take care & please know many of us DO CARE 🌷

No masks in preschools

I have been wearing a mask all day since September (year 2). I didn't ask, I just put it on and it hasn't been challenged even though I know everyone has seen me. I know lots of people disagree with unions etc, but currently as far as I know teaching unions will support you if you want to wear a mask. If it makes you feel safer just use one and see what happens

Hit send to soon! I wouldnt want to wear one the children need to see our mouths for their speech. However i do feel very exposed.

I’ve started wearing a mask whenever I have to go closer than 2m to a child. I take it off when I am teaching from the front but that’s it. I’ve got to the point where it’s just tough about them not being able to see my mouth. My health and that of my unborn baby trump that at this point in time.

My school have said we can wear masks but my colleagues tell me the kids complain they can't hear them through them. So SLT aren't the problem for us, they are supportive of mask wearing as long as the pupils are happy... but they aren't.
Ironically, my lung condition is severe enough that I really can't wear a mask but is also the reason i wish i could wear one. If i could i would definitely be wearing one.

SLT very supportive where I am, but the two main players are just not in school. So, virtual support. Not very useful at a time when we need bods in the school.

We now have to wear masks once we are out of a room where our bubble is. So, in the hall for PE we wear a mask, in our classroom not.

One of the reasons that behaviour is so bad at the moment is that there are no sports activities, or extracurricular activities, they can't mess around with friends outside school, and they are told to stay inside. Obviously not all are staying inside, but loads of kids get rid of excess energy by playing sports. At the moment they are coming into school for a party.

I'm sorry you're worried.
I'm an SEN teacher and the only measures we have is bubbles. Other than that no PPE, no masks, nothing. we're in constant contact with the students, changing, biting, kicking, grabbing etc.
I don't want any ppe and I'm happy that it's as close to normal as it can be for the sake of the kids.
The main issue we face is the number of people isolating / cases in school as we are absolutely staff dependent , we need everyone there possible in order to safely manage the kids.

I'm also CEV. But I'm the least risk averse person on the planet. I don't mind in the slightest

Teachers can wear masks if the head/Trust say they can. So there are some crappy heads around.

I do supply, so get around to a lot of primary schools. It's crazy that the safety / protection of staff is down to individual heads. Some are being really cautious while others have absolutely nothing in place and it's a case of just getting on with it and hoping for the best 😬

At the moment they are coming into school for a party.

Oh yes. I'm giving them the last 45 minutes of the day as a social time really. We do very light touch stuff, they sit wherever they like etc. Gives me time to do same day intervention 'keep up' at the back of the classroom, as obviously that's not happening either at the moment.

Just wanted to add my voice of support. I'm really worried too. Raised concerns with my HT and now being punished for it which is just insane. Union involved and everything. Scared I'll get it. Scared I'll take it home. Scared something I do or don't do will pass it onto a pupil or colleague. Trying to fit a bit of teaching in alongside all of that. Can't remember what it was like to just do my job. Feeling on my knees.

Sorry about the rant - just wanted you to know you're not the only one feeling this way

One thing that has been better this year is parents' evenings online. We give each family 10 minutes (which doesn't get through everybody of course,) but the appointment automatically cuts off after 10 minutes.,I've been waiting for this automatic cut-off feature all of my teaching life.

I don't know what the answer is, but it would be a start if the Govt realised there was a bloody question!!

This 👏👏👏👏

I used to teach but haven't been in the classroom for years. I've recently started working a couple of evenings at a tuition centre and am really shocked by what I've seen. I have 5 students in a tiny room where the window doesn't open. All the students are supposed to wear masks and they all pull the down under their chins. Behaviour is far worse because they are so sick of all these new measures and how depressing and, particularly for them, unpredictable life is at the moment. I don't mind hugely because it's not a long time for me but it has given me an idea of what it must be like in secondary schools at the moment.

I am self isolating at the moment due to positives in my class, children not adults. I am due back in Tuesday and although I have hated not being able to go out I have not missed the daily grind with only a 20 minute break.

To top it off we have a power cut at the moment so me and my husband are sat on our phones in the dark hoping our batteries last the two hours they think it will take to fix!

I’m so sorry you’re all going through this . I want kids at school but I think they need to close for a month to help the cases come down, which will the help the cases in schools . It’s awful that we are in the precarious position and schools are not given the adequate funds , support to sort it out . I appreciate you all and I’m so sorry for you all .

@Incacat2
I never want to go back to in person parents evenings.

Me neither. Had the highest uptake of parents evenings ever. I spoke to parents at work, in car parks.. wherever. No child care needed, no requirement to be there at a certain time. Worked really well for all.

I'm an SEN teacher and we have hearing impaired pupils. Their heating aids or cochlear implants don't really work more than 2m away and we obviously can't wear masks, so we all have to accept that we'll be coming into close contact with them. So that makes me anxious. I don't know what the answer is, though. They need school, even more than children in mainstream do; we did what live teaching we could during the first lockdown but it's not a substitute for actually being in the room with them.

*hearing not heating!